Many students start their college research too late and many students don't explore colleges broadly enough, missing out on schools that could be a great fit for them. Take the time to explore colleges you're interested through Naviance or through other program's such as BigFuture, the College Board's college planning website.

As you begin your research, here are some things to consider: the size and location of the school, available majors, extracurricular activities, distance from home, financial aid, student body, housing options, and campus atmosphere. 

One important thing you can do to get ahead is to create a college list based on the research you did. Start by listing all the colleges you want to attend. List the important information about the college, including stats for the previous year's applicants (GPA, SAT/ACT scores), acceptance rates, application deadlines, application fee, cost of tuition, etc.  Also include any minimum requirements for merit scholarships.

As you strategically build your college list, you should include a mix of reach, match, and safety schools. This will allow you to both hedge your bets and leave open the possibility that you can exceed your own expectations. A match school is one in which your transcript mirrors that of the average freshman. In other words, your GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and coursework align in the information that you researched. While this will not guarantee acceptance, you can apply with confidence and understanding that you have a great shot. Unlike a match, reach schools are colleges where your academic qualifications are below the average accepted student. When considering a reach school, it's still important to be realistic. Finally, a safety school is one in which your academic record exceed those of the average accepted student. This means that there is a high probability that you will be admitted, though it is important to recognize that there are no guarantees.

It can be difficult to leave the Island to visit schools, however you can still visit colleges and/or meet with a representative by participating in a virtual college fair or taking a virtual college tour. Visit the website of the college you are interested in to see if they offer virtual tours. 

Read this article to learn about How to Choose a College Without Visiting it.

Interested in attending Northern Arizona University (NAU)? Check out a virtual tour --> https://nau.edu/admission/virtual-tour/ or attend a prospective student virtual information session. 

FINANCIAL AID

Understanding Financial Aid - As you prepare for college or career school, explore how financial aid works, learn about the types of aid, and find out if you’re eligible. 

Financial Aid Resource Page - Sponsored by Hawai'i P-20, visit this site to learn more about Federal Student Aid and FAFSA. 

Federal Aid Estimator - It is a simple eligibility estimator tool that can help you plan when it comes to paying for college, as it provides you with a free estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Hawai'i Community Foundation - Search through over 200Hawai'i community based scholarships. Annually, HCF distributes over $4.5 million to deserving students, making it the third largest private provider of post-secondary scholarships in the state. HCF scholarships support students who are pursuing degrees from colleges and universities, as well as those obtaining career and technical education at a community college. 

CollegeCovered.com a FREE resource to help students and families plan and pay for college. 

RaiseMe - Earn micro-scholarships directly from colleges and universities for your high school accomplishments. Discover the best-fit colleges for you and begin earning scholarships starting in the 9th grade.

Kamehameha Schools - 1 application, 100 + scholarships are available to the public, including students who are not graduates of Kamehameha Schools. However, it is the policy of the Pauahi Foundation to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. 

Many students spend weeks, if not months, perfecting their personal statement. It takes time to brainstorm, revise, edit, and finalize a strong personal statement. By starting now, you have the time to brainstorm a topic that showcases who you are as a person. Use the opportunity to show the college/scholarship organization what's important to you and to let your personality shine through. Do not summarize all of your extracurricular activities, awards and other accomplishments at this time. Instead, brainstorm an important moment in your life, perhaps something that makes you unique, a time when you showed leadership, or a challenge that you've overcome.  

• Common Application typically releases their personal statement prompts in January of Junior year to give time to think about and write your essay. 

The official SAT site offers study guides, study plans, practice tests, information on what you’ll be tested on, and a breakdown of the SAT. Additionally, the SAT site provides a bunch of tips, tricks, strategies, and suggestions on how to study for, and take the entrance exam. For additional SAT practice, visit Khan Academy. 

The official ACT site provides test takers with test tips, descriptions of the subjects tested, sample questions, and a downloadable booklet that contains a practice test, scoring key, test info, and more.  ACT also has links to other prep opportunities, some of which do cost, but the free resources are a great help too. 

Number2.com allows users to view tutorials, answer practice questions, create flashcards, and so much more in preparation for the ACT or SAT. The course is customized and adapts based on the user’s skill level. It keeps track of what they’ve studied and how well they’re doing. There is even immediate feedback for every incorrect answer on a practice test. The user can learn from their mistake and push forward towards a better score. 

SparkNotes is one-stop-shopping (with a grand total of costing you $0.00) for any and all questions you have about the ACT/SAT. With a comprehensive breakdown of the tests, how they’re graded, guides to each section, and strategies, SparkNotes is a great tool to use. 

Prep Factory is an awesome site that offers a revolutionary and unique take on test prep. By implementing experience points (XP) and a level-up system, PrepFactory engages with students and makes the studying process not only rewarding but fun. Students can earn XP by watching videos, taking practice tests, and answering questions correctly. 

What documents should I preparing for life after graduation?

• Immunization record (Get from your Doctor or your parent may have the original record)

• Memorize your Social Security #.  If you lost your card/don’t know your number, go to: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

• TB clearance (Go to your Doctor or https://health.hawaii.gov/tb/tb-testing-locations-times/ to check for locations and times)

• Birth certificate.  If you do not have one go to: https://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/

• Government issued ID: 

  1. For a Driver’s license - https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/finance/vehicle-registration-licensing/driver-licensing-general-information.  

  2. For a State ID: http://www.honolulu.gov/index.php/cms-csd-menu/site-csd-sitearticles/6439-state-id-info-and-requirements.html

• Work permit if under the age of 18:https://labor.hawaii.gov/wsd/child-labor/

• Learn more about --> Jobs for High Schoolers